Chapter 93

Chapter 93

Chapter 21 (Part 3)

Zheng Yan returns to the rear court stables at the palace on horseback. By the time he dismounts, it’s dark and murky outside, already close to the twilight hour, and a drizzle has begun to fall. Cai Yan is having dinner, with Lang Junxia sitting nearby.

“So?” Cai Yan asks.

“I spoke with Wu Du.” Zheng Yan sits down as well behind another table in the room. He picks up a cup filled with cold tea and takes a sip. “From what I can surmise, he probably doesn’t want to join the Eastern Palace. I already brought Benxiao back to him.”

Cai Yan doesn’t say anything, just keeps silently chewing his food.

“There’s a young man living in Wu Du’s house.” Zheng Yan adds, “Name’s Wang Shan — must have been the special envoy Chancellor Mu sent to Tongguan. If Your Highness intends to show Wu Du favour and give him this opportunity, you’ll need to devote some energy to this young man.”

Cai Yan hums an affirmative. Outside, a guard announces, “Your Highness, he’s here.”

“Tell him to please come in,” Cai Yan says.

Hearing Cai Yan use the word “please”, Lang Junxia turns his attention to the door with a slight frown. There’s a man standing there; emaciated bag-of-bones thin, around thirty-something, with malevolent eyes and rough skin. Dressed in a clean robe made out of peasant-cloth, his face covered with dark bruises, he comes into the room on silent feet, so briskly that he brings up a breeze in his wake.

“Greetings, Your Highness,” the man says, and with a flap of his sleeves he gets down on his knees to kowtow at Cai Yan.

“You didn’t tell me that he’s been pardoned too,” Lang Junxia says in a cold voice.

Contrarily, Zheng Yan already knew, so when he sees Feng he merely smiles without a word.

“And now you know, Wuluohou Mu,” Zheng Yan says to Lang Junxia. “His Highness is such a caring person. He was so worried you’d get angry and that’s bad for your health, you know.”

Lang Junxia ignores Zheng Yan’s taunt, and turns his gaze on Cai Yan. Cai Yan feels extremely awkward, and he coughs. “Feng, rise. That seat is for you.”

Cai Yan points at a seat to his right, placed at the end. Feng then salutes both Lang Junxia and Zheng Yan, “I’m the guilty official, Feng. Greetings, my lords.”

“All are guilty to a degree,” Cai Yan says, “Otherwise there’d be no need for virtuous sages. Since you’ve joined the Eastern Palace, work hard. Make each day count.”

Feng gives him a slight smile. Cai Yan bestows him a cup of wine, and Feng takes little sips from it. Outside the hall, a west wind starts to blow. A susurrus chorus of falling leaves whip by, filling the courtyard with what looks like blood.

An autumn breeze sends the leaves rustling, and the Silver River is glittering above. A dazzling array of lanterns has been lit all through the chancellor’s estate, shining on the banquet tables in the pavilion. Performers have been hired to put on a shadow puppet show, with music on the qin overlaid with lines of lyrics; graceful, nimble shadows play on a screen to tell the story of a wolf man in Jiangzhou during the Yu dynasty.2 Male crabs weighing half a catty each and female crabs just barely under that are served at the table, waiting in steamer baskets.

Mu Qing is watching the puppet show with quite a lot of interest, while Duan Ling is taking apart crabs for Mu Qing and they occasionally exchange a word or two. Wu Du on the other hand is picking out crab roe and meat with his chopsticks, setting it aside for Duan Ling, so that he wouldn’t go without eating as he’s busy waiting on Mu Qing.

“Is that for me?” Duan Ling says with a smile.

Wu Du gestures, go ahead and eat it, and Duan Ling takes it for his own.

“Sorry I’m late!” Mu Kuangda says with a smile. “With the matter of the capital’s relocation just settled, a lot of things are still up in the air and it’s taken up quite a bit of time.”

Everyone rises from their seats at once. Chang Liujun and Chang Pin, his martial and literati left and right hand, trails into the room behind him. It’s a clear show of respect for Wu Du.

“No harm done,” Wu Du says, “we were just watching a show. The wait wasn’t at all dreary.”

Everyone greets Mu Kuangda individually before Mu Kuangda says to Chang Pin, “Fei Hongde has pulled yet another vanishing act. If I only knew I’d have made Wang Shan wrap himself around his leg and brought him back here even if he had to drag him.”3

Everyone in the room starts to laugh. Mu Kuangda tells them, “Eat. Don’t worry about me. This banquet has always been an excuse to give everyone a nice hot meal in the name of welcoming you two back.”

Duan Ling smiles, “I presumed you would be too busy, Chancellor Mu, so of course I didn’t dare come yammering at you as soon as I got back.”

Mu Kuangda nods, and praises him, “You two did an excellent job. It is a great weight off my mind, and nothing should go awry in Tongguan for at least ten years. I brought it up in front of His Majesty today, and His Majesty quite appreciates your skills, Wu Du.”

Wu Du merely hms coolly before he says, “It’s all thanks to you, Grand Chancellor.”

The people present in the hall seem to have sensed the change within Wu Du as well, and they glance his way without saying a word. Chang Pin is the only one who smiles and says, “I often thought about travelling at Master Fei’s side when I was young, but since our separation ten years ago I haven’t heard from him. It’s truly fate at work that our young friend Wang Shan managed to meet up with him.”

Duan Ling says, “Master Fei is in excellent health.”

All previous communication Duan Ling had with Mu Kuangda was by written missive, and now, narrating the detailed account of what they experienced from the moment they reached Tongguan until the final battle, it sounds truly thrilling. But the credit for most of the strategising had been placed squarely on Wu Du in order to stop Mu Kuangda and Chang Pin from getting suspicious. Mu Kuangda is so absorbed he keeps nodding from time to time, while Chang Pin grabs a crab and starts eating, his gaze not on Duan Ling but on the puppet show.

Once Duan Ling finishes explaining the rough outline of what took place on their trip, Wu Du casually adds a few more details about the defences in Tongguan, as well as the opposing side’s strength and so on.

At the end Mu Kuangda says, “Wu Du, it seems you do have quite the talent in strategy, formation, leading an assault, and guerrilla warfare.”

“Probably learned it from General Zhao, right?” Chang Liujun, who has been standing to one side, says, “I suppose we should call that a swan song now.”

Mu Qing reads the words between Chan Liujun’s lines and huffs out a laugh. “Pfft!”

Duan Ling glances over at Wu Du, but Wu Du no longer places any importance on Chang Liujun’s provocations. He simply replies with a humble nod, and says, “It’s better than following a master for years on end without learning anything at all. I concede.”

It is Duan Ling, this time, who nearly spits out his food laughing. Wu Du hands another crab carapace full of meat and roe to Duan Ling, and says to Mu Kuangda, “I was just thinking that since the exams are coming up soon, if we didn’t hurry back it’d get in the way of Shan’er’s studies, and rushed back as soon as possible.”

“You’re a family man now,” Mu Kuangda says to Wu Du. “Seems the crown prince really does recognise your worth, though. When you get home you should really consider it.”

And so Wu Du stops talking.

“Speaking of which,” Chang Pin says, sounding rather amused, “The estate is about to write up invitations in preparation for the special exams taking place in the beginning of spring next year. We at the estate are exempt from having to take the provincial qualifying exams, and naturally with our young friend Wang Shan’s essay writing, he shouldn’t have to wait another three years — there’s no harm in him taking the metropolitan examinations directly. But we’ll need Master Wu to give us details as to the circumstances of his birth so we can write the name card in order to get him officially named under a teacher.”

Alarm jolts through Duan Ling’s heart, as he hasn’t expected Chang Pin to pull something like this. Duan Ling can feel that Chang Pin does have a mind to figure him out, but whether or not he suspects something odd in his identity — well that he can’t tell for sure.

But Wu Du has already thought of a way to counter this. He says to Duan Ling, “What’s your dad’s name again? I used to just call him Dage, Dage day in and day out, and now I can’t actually remember what his real name was.”

“Wang Sheng,” Duan Ling replies.

“Wang Sheng.” Wu Du heaves a sigh, and pauses briefly to sort out his thoughts. “Wang Shan lost his mother at a young age, and his dad was an apothecary who saw patients on occasion as a doctor. We met in Xunbei, and he often helped me track down rare ingredients. Wang Shan travelled all over the continent so he knew more than most other children his age anyway; his dad mentioned entrusting him to me more than once so he wouldn’t have to spend his life on the road. But back then I was living under another’s roof, I could barely take care of myself, so I didn’t have the energy to worry about those two.”

Duan Ling recalls his father. Even though Wu Du has fabricated the circumstances of his birth, bits of it here and there match up to his memories, and he can’t help remembering the past; all of a sudden he’s filled with emotions.

“A man who practiced medicine, who did good work and accumulated good karma to shade his descendents.” Chang Pin says, “Your dad must have been a good man.”

Duan Ling gives him a nod, and Wu Du starts to smile. He pats Duan Ling’s on the shoulder, and takes his hand, wrapping his own around it, fingers caressing his. A tenderness flows forth in Duan Ling’s heart, for he knows Wu Du isn’t putting on an act; he really is trying to encourage him.

“Kid’s always been charming.” Wu Du turns to the party and says, “People of all trades — soldiers, smiths, Cuju players, spirit mediums, tailors, opera singers — would choose to pass on some of their skills to him out of gratitude to his dad. As for how much he’s learned, that I don’t rightly know. There is greatness in his fate according to the fortune teller, and I’ve been told he’s not fit for marriage4 according to his father, and he said Wang Shan should just stay with me.5 As for his future, he left it up to me.”

“Then let’s hear it from you,” Mu Kuangda says, and he turns to Chang Pin. “Put him down as from a line of physicians, the Wangs, ancestral hometown of Xunbei. Physician is a proper vocation. We can leave out the rest.”

Chang Pin says smilingly, “Your new line of work can’t bring back the dead so it’s hardly the same, but instead of treating the ill you can treat the state — that’s not such a bad thing.”

Now those words have truly elevated Duan Ling too much, and he hurriedly expresses his gratitude towards Chang Pin and Mu Kuangda. Mu Kuangda casually pours a cup of wine at his table and brings it to Wu Du. “Have some mulled wine. It’ll help settle the coldness that comes with eating crab.6 You’re wounded, I know, so just stay in the estate and recuperate for the next little while. Once you figure out what you want I’ll give you more work.”

Wu Du knows that the crown prince has also raised his desire to recruit him in front of Mu Kuangda, and if it’s advantageous to the Mus, Mu Kuangda will of course want him to join the Eastern Palace. This way, no matter what happens, as long as he’s willing to inform the Mus, it would be akin to the Mus having a spy in the palace, and they’ll constantly have a grasp of what the crown prince is planning. And on top of that this spy would be Wu Du — master of poisons.

But what Duan Ling has in mind is another thing entirely. The crown prince has already tried to recruit Wu Du once, and if he believed in Wu Du’s loyalty, then leaving him in the chancellor’s estate as a henchman of Mu Kuangda’s would be far more beneficial — so why has he changed his mind now?

“I can’t drink anymore.” Wu Du waves the wine off. “This wine is really strong.”

This chapter is scrapped from readlightnovel.org

Wu Du hands the leftover half cup of wine to Duan Ling, and Duan Ling drinks it. Mu Kuangda and Chang Pin will need to have a meeting later on in the evening, so Duan Ling and Wu Du cut the night short and head back to their house to sleep.

As they walk through the corridor that leads out of the Chancellor’s estate, Wu Du suddenly says, “Look.”

A river of silver cuts across the horizon, just visible above the alleyway between two roofs. They stop, both remembering the night of the Seventh of Seventh.

“Somehow I’ve forgotten to celebrate your birthday with you,” Wu Du says to Duan Ling. “I was fighting that day and forgot all about it.”

“My birthday is in the twelfth month,” Duan Ling whispers, 'so let’s celebrate then.”

Duan Ling and Wu Du return to their rooms. They’ve both had quite a bit of wine, and Wu Du falls heavily onto the bed, staring at Duan Ling through drunken eyes.

Duan Ling can’t be bothered to wash up and change, and simply lies down next to Wu Du.

“Do you want to join the Eastern Palace?” Duan Ling asks.

There’s a brief silence before Wu Du answers, “Maybe I’ll be able to find some evidence regarding Wuluohou Mu and the crown prince.”

“I’d rather you stay at my side, and I don’t want us to part either.”

“Then I won’t go.” Raising a hand, Wu Du gives Duan Ling a light pat on the shoulder. He turns onto his side. They lie facing each other on the bed on their sides, looking into the other’s eyes.

“There’s still time. Chancellor Mu will ask you again after the metropolitan exams.”

Wu Du’s brows lightly furrow. “How’d you know that?”

“He needs to make sure you remain loyal to him, thus he’ll keep me in the estate and use me to control you.”

It becomes clear to Wu Du all at once. Now that he thinks about it, that’s highly probable. Mu Kuangda can tell the bond between them has strengthened, and all he has to do is guide Duan Ling, assist him, and take him in as a student. And in exchange Wu Du would become a retainer in the Eastern Palace, becoming an unseen agent Mu Kuangda keeps near the crown prince.

“But I haven’t been able to figure it all out yet.” Duan Ling is still a bit drunk. He puts his hand on Wu Du’s face. “Why is the crown prince in such a hurry to recruit you? His attitude isn’t the same as the way it was before.”

But Wu Du is no longer listening. There’s a redness in his cheeks from drinking, and his eyes are full of Duan Ling. There seems to be water in Duan Ling’s eyes, as bright as a pond reflecting a starry sky.

“Duan Ling.”

“Hm?” Duan Ling suddenly feels that if he has someone like Wu Du at his side forever, that’s a rather nice way to live. Just as Wu Du said in front of Mu Kuangda, he can’t get married — and the truth is, Duan Ling doesn’t want to get married either, otherwise his many secrets will bring them nothing but danger.

“In the future you’ll be the emperor. Don’t take what I said in front of Chancellor Mu today seriously. Someday, you’ll marry a beautiful Crown Princess-consort, and she’ll become your empress. You’ll have sons, grandsons …”

“I won’t marry.”

“You’ll have to remember me.” Wu Du says, slurring with drink, “remember that, tonight, you and I are lying on a bed in the chancellor’s estate …”

Duan Ling repeats, “I won’t.”

He’s already very sleepy. In his drowsiness a vague idea surfaces — he thinks of how the crown prince probably believes Mu Kuangda is about to poison him, and realises that he’s not safe, serves him right that he has to live with his heart constantly on edge like that; he thinks of how, just as his father had told him, a lot of people are going to stumble over each other to give him everything, but he still strongly believes that if someone wants to give him everything, of course he should give everything of himself to that someone in return …

In Wu Du’s embrace, he falls asleep.

Slowly, Wu Du closes his eyes, and with the faint scent of osmanthus mulled wine between his lips, he lowers his head and presses a light kiss to the bridge of Duan Ling’s nose.

I do not monetise my hobby translations, but if you’d like to support my work generally or support my light novel habit, you can either buy me a coffee or commission me. This is also to note that if you see this message anywhere else than on tumblr, do come to my tumblr. It’s ad-free. ↩︎

For more about the wolf man, read Yingnu. All I’ll tell you here is that it’s a tragedy involving treachery, poison, and betrayal. (Inappropriate, in other words.) ↩︎

This is your reminder that titles in the mouse-overs can be found on the reference page. ↩︎

It is generally believed that someone who’s meant for greatness tends to be a hex on those related to them, both by blood and by marriage. ↩︎

This 100% sounded like stay with him for life as in married. ↩︎

“Coldness” is just a TCM concept, and eating crab brings “coldness” which is why it’s usually served with ginger tea. ↩︎